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The following message
has been provided to Apparel Search by one of our web site viewers.
This viewer wanted to express her opinion, and it is our pleasure to give
her the forum to do so. We agree with much of what she says...
Therefore, it is our pleasure to present her comments to you.

In Spain, the government has done a wonderful,
humane, and kind thing
to their women. What the Spanish government did was now intervene in the
fashion industry and allow women to be a normal BMI,
and not anorexic,
in order to participate in fashion shows.

I would love to have the American Designers take a stand on this as
well and guide fashion designers and magazines to have only women with
normal BMI's participate in fashion shows
and magazine advertising. This
will help prevent deadly eating disorders and drug abuse from women who
are taking dangerous steps in order to be thin like the models shown in
ads. Each year, thousands of American girls
die from eating disorders.
I also have suffered from eating disorders and I am
heartbroken at my
niece continually crying because she is not as thin as the models in
magazines or the actresses on television. I think this issue would be a
dramatic win for the fashion industry because it not only illustrates
goodwill but it will also prevent lawsuits in the future as the door will
begin to open when women who suffered eating disorders will be able to
take suit at the fashion industry for having a part in their disorders.

Spanish Fashion Show Rejects Skinny Models
By DANIELWOOLLS,
AP
MADRID, Spain (Sept. 9) - Spain's top fashion show has turned away a
slew of models on grounds they are too skinny - an unprecedented swipe at
body images blamed for encouraging eating disorders among young people.
Organizers of the pageant, known as the PasarelaCibeles, used a
mathematical formula to calculate the models' body mass index - a measure of
their weight in relation to their height - and 30 percent of the women
flunked, said the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain.
The association said Friday it wanted models at the show running from
Sept. 18-22 to project "an image of beauty and health" and shun a gaunt,
emaciated look.

The decision was made as part of a voluntary
agreement with the Madrid
regional government, said Jesus delPozo, a designer who is part of the
association, said Thursday.

Last year's show, also called Madrid Fashion Week,
drew protests from
medical associations and women's advocacy groups because some of the
models were positively bone-thin.
This time the Madrid regional government decided to intervene and
pressure organizers to hire fuller-figured women as role models for young
girls obsessed with being thin and prone to starving themselves into
sickness, said ConchaGuerra, deputy finance minister of the
regional
administration. Fashion shows, Guerra said,
"are mirrors for many young
women."

Del Pozo said this
was the first time skinny models have been snubbed
at a major international fashion show.
Ryan Brown, director of marketing and public relations in North America
for the Elite modeling agency in New York City, agreed. "It is very
unprecedented," said Brown, who has nothing to do with the Spanish show.
He welcomed the decision saying "I think it is great to promote
health."

Madrid's show,
which features mainly Spanish designers, is not as
prestigious as catwalks in Paris or Milan but "it is not at the bottom of
the pile," he said.

The impact of rejecting skinny women would have been greater at those
other glitzier venues. Still, he said, "I am
sure the industry is taking
note."

The body mass index is a tool for doctors who study
obesity. It is
calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and
multiplying that total by 703.

If the resulting number is between 18.5 and 24.9, the person's weight
is normal. Below 18.5 they are underweight.
In the case of the Madrid
show, organizers rejected women with indices under 18.
Brown of the Elite agency said fashion shows reflect the tastes of
clothing designers, who for now prefer the Kate Moss look as opposed to the
curvier dimensions of models such as Cindy
Crawford in years past.
"They don't want voluptuous girls any more," he said. "It would be nice
if fashion got back to that."

The above Think Tank article was Posted on Apparel Search September 2006

If you have thought provoking ideas that are relevant
to apparel or textiles, please share your
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